He told Cosmo, "It's great not having to be the plucky best friend, or the comic relief anymore -- I love that. Who wouldn't rather hear, 'Wow, you look great,' than, 'Ewww…'?"

The Travel Channel star added, "To go from hating the way I looked to being a Cosmo centerfold is a profound honor.”

[Credit: Getty Images]

The 40-year-old wrote an essay for Men’s Health in December, describing his workout regimen. "My soccer training includes squats, push-ups, resistance-band work, and sprints,” he explained. “Ninety minutes of running became part of my love of the game rather than a chore."